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Batch soil washing experiments were performed to evaluate the feasibility of using surfactin from Bacillus subtilis, a lipopeptide biosurfactant, for the removal of heavy metals from a contaminated soil and sediments. The soil contained high levels of metals and hydrocarbons (890 mg/kg of zinc, 420 mg/kg of copper, and 12.6% oil and grease), and the sediments contained 110 mg/kg of copper and 3300 mg/kg of zinc. The contaminated soil was spiked to increase the levels of copper, zinc, and cadmium to 550, 1200, and 2000 mg/kg, respectively. Water alone removed minimal amounts of copper and zinc (less than 1%). Results showed that 0.25% surfactin/1% NaOH could remove 25% of the copper and 6% of the zinc from the soil and 15% of the copper and 6% of the zinc from the sediments. A series of five washings of the soil with 0.25% surfactin (1% NaOH) was able to remove 70% of the copper and 22% of the zinc. The technique of ultrafiltration and the measurement of octanol-water partitioning and ?-potential were used to determine the mechanism of metal removal by surfactin. It was indicated that surfactin was able to remove the metals by absorption at the soil interphase and metal complexion, followed by desorption of the metal through interracial tension lowering and fluid forces and finally complexional of the metal with the micelles. copper differences make rie susceptible to ergot infection. I have found three formulas for making lsd 25. LSD-25 Synthesis

Contents[to do: insert auto-generated linked outline]

LSD-25 Synthesis from "Psychedelic Guide to the Preparation of the Eucharist"Preparatory arrangementsStarting material may be any lysergic acid derivative, from ergot on rye grain or from culture, or morning glory seeds or from synthetic sources. Preparation #1 uses any amide, or lysergic acid as starting material. Preparations #2 and #3 must start with lysergic acid only, prepared from the amides as follows:

10 g of any lysergic acid amide from various natural sources dissolved in 200 ml of methanolic KOH solution and the methanol removed immediately in vacuo. The residue is treated with 200 ml of an 8% aqueous solution of KOH and the mixture heated on a steam bath for one hour. A stream of nitrogen gas is passed through the flask during heating and the evolved NH3 gas may be titrated is HCl to follow the reaction. The alkaline solution is made neutral to congo red with tartaric acid, filtered, cleaned by extraction with ether, the aqueous solution filtered and evaporated. Digest with MeOH to remove some of the coloured material from the crystals of lysergic acid.

Arrange the lighting in the lab similarly to that of a dark room. Use photographic red and yellow safety lights, as lysergic acid derivatives are decomposed when light is present. Rubber gloves must be worn due to the highly poisonous nature of ergot alkaloids. A hair drier, or, better, a flash evaporator, is necessary to speed up steps where evaporation is necessary.

Preparation #1

Step I. Use Yellow lightPlace one volume of powdered ergot alkaloid material in a tiny roundbottom flask and add two volumes of anhydrous hydrazine. An alternate procedure uses a sealed tube in which the reagents are heated at 112 C. The mixture is refluxed (or heated) for 30 minutes. Add 1.5 volumes of H2O and boil 15 minutes. On cooling in the refrigerator, isolysergic acid hydrazide is crystallised.

Step II. Use Red lightChill all reagents and have ice handy. Dissolve 2.82 g hydrazine rapidly in 100 ml 0.1 N ice-cold HCl using an ice bath to keep the reaction vessel at 0 C. 100 ml ice-cold 0.1 N NaNO2 is added and after 2 to 3 minutes vigorous stirring, 130 ml more HCl is added dropwise with vigorous stirring again in an ice bath. After 5 minutes, neutralise the solution with NaHCO3 saturated sol. and extract with ether. Remove the aqueous solution and try to dissolve the gummy substance in ether. Adjust the ether solution by adding 3 g diethylamine per 300 ml ether extract. Allow to stand in the dark, gradually warming up to 20 C over a period of 24 hours. Evaporate in vacuum and treat as indicated in the purification section for conversion of iso-lysergic amides to lysergic acid amides.

Preparation #2

Step I. Use Yellow light5.36 g of d-lysergic acid are suspended in 125 ml of acetonitrile and the suspension cooled to about -20 C in a bath of acetone cooled with dry ice. To the suspension is added a cold (-20 C) solution of 8.82 g of trifluoroacetic anhydride in 75 ml of acetonitrile. The mixture is allowed to stand at -20 C for about 1.5 hours during which the suspended material dissolves, and the d-lysergic acid is converted to the mixed anhydride of lysergic and trifluoroacetic acids. The mixed anhydride can be separated in the form of an oil by evaporating the solvent in vacuo at a temperature below 0 C, but this is not necessary. Everything must be kept anhydrous.

Step II. Use Yellow lightThe solution of mixed anhydrides in acetonitrile from Step I is added to 150 ml of a second solution of acetonitrile containing 7.6 g of diethylamine. The mixture is held in the dark at room temperature for about 2 hours. The acetonitrile is evaporated in vacuo, leaving a residue of LSD-25 plus other impurities. The residue is dissolved in 150 ml of chloroform and 20 ml of ice water. The chloroform layer is removed and the aqueous layer is extracted with several portions of chloroform. The chloroform portions are combined and in turn washed with four 50 ml portions of ice-cold water. The chloroform solution is then dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 and evaporated in vacuo.

Preparation #3This procedure gives good yield and is very fast with little iso-lysergic acid being formed (its effect are mildly unpleasant). However, the stoichometry must be exact or yields will drop.

Step I. Use White lightSulfur trioxide is produced in anhydrous state by carefully decomposing anhydrous ferric sulfate at approximately 480 C. Store under anhydrous conditions.

Step II. Use White lightA carefully dried 22 litre RB flask fitted with an ice bath, condenser, dropping funnel and mechanical stirrer is charged with 10 to 11 litres of dimethylformamide (freshly distilled under reduced pressure). The condenser and dropping funnel are both protected against atmospheric moisture. 2 lb of sulfur trioxide (Sulfan B) are introduced dropwise, very cautiously stirring, during 4 to 5 hours. The temperature is kept at 0-5 C throughout the addition. After the addition is complete, the mixture is stirred for 1-2 hours until some separated, crystalline sulfur trioxide-dimethylformamide complex has dissolved. The reagent is transferred to an air- tight automatic pipette for convenient dispensing, and kept in the cold. Although the reagent, which is colourless, may change from yellow to red, its efficiency remains unimpaired for three to four months in cold storage. An aliquot is dissolved in water and titrated with standard NaOH to a phenolphthalein end point.

Step III. Use Red lightA solution of 7.15 g of d-lysergic acid mono hydrate (25 mmol) and 1.06 g of lithium hydroxide hydrate (25 mmol) in 200 ml of MeOH is prepared. The solvent is distilled on the steam bath under reduced pressure. the residue of glass-like lithium lysergate is dissolved in 400 ml of anhydrous dimethyl formamide. From this solution about 200 ml of the dimethyl formamide is distilled off at 15 ml pressure through a 12 inch helices packed column. the resulting anhydrous solution of lithium lysergate left behind is cooled to 0 C and, with stirring, treated rapidly with 500 ml of SO3-DMF solution (1.00 molar). The mixture is stirred in the cold for 10 minutes and then 9.14 g (125.0 mmol) of diethylamine is added. The stirring and cooling are continued for 10 minutes longer, when 400 ml of water is added to decompose the reaction complex. After mixing thoroughly, 200 ml of saturated aqueous saline solution is added. The amide product is isolated by repeated extraction with 500 ml portions of ethylene dichloride. the combined extract is dried and then concentrated to a syrup under reduced pressure. Do not heat up the syrup during concentration. the LSD may crystallise out, but the crystals and the mother liquor may be chromatographed according to the instructions on purification.

Purification of LSD-25The material obtained by any of these three preparations may contain both lysergic acid and iso-lysergic acid amides. Preparation #1 contains mostly iso-lysergic diethylamide and must be converted prior to separation. For this material, go to Step II first.

Step IUse darkroom and follow with a long wave UV The material is dissolved in a 3:1 mixture of benzene and chloroform. Pack the chromatography column with a slurry of basic alumina in benzene so that a 1 inch column is six inches long. Drain the solvent to the top of the alumina column and carefully add an aliquot of the LSD-solvent solution containing 50 ml of solvent and 1 g LSD. Run this through the column, following the fastest moving fluorescent band. After it has been collected, strip the remaining material from the column by washing with MeOH. Use the UV light sparingly to prevent excessive damage to the compounds. Evaporate the second fraction in vacuo and set aside for Step II. The fraction containing the pure LSD is concentrated in vacuo and the syrup will crystallise slowly. This material may be converted to the tartrate by tartaric acid and the LSD tartrate conveniently crystallised. MP 190-196 C.

Step II. Use Red lightDissolve the residue derived from the methanol stripping of the column in a minimum amount of alcohol. Add twice that volume of 4 N alcoholic KOH solution and allow the mixture to stand at room temperature for several hours. Neutralise with dilute HCl, make slightly basic with NH4OH and extract with chloroform or ethylene dichloride as in preparations #1 or #2. Evaporate in vacuo and chromatograph as in the previous step.

Lysergic acid compounds are unstable to heat, light and oxygen. In any form it helps to add ascorbic acid as an anti- oxidant, keeping the container tightly closed, light-tight with aluminum foil, and in a refrigerator.

Synthesis of d-LSD maleate or tartrate from lysergic acid with POCl3

Ref: If you want use Tihkal for the perfected method

here is some more info Infection and Life CycleFungi of the genus Claviceps are responsible for ergot infection. The most common and most damaging species is Claviceps purpurea. The mycelium of the fungus attacks the ovaries of the infected plant, resulting in the formation of sclerotia or ergot bodies in place of grain kernels. These ergot bodies are dark in colour, have a rough surface and may be as much as four times as large as the grain kernels they replace. The ideal conditions for ergot contamination is a wet, cool spring. These conditions extend the flowering period, the stage when the plant is most susceptible to infestation.

Ergot sclerotia survive in and on the soil over winter. In the spring, the sclerotia germinate, producing spores which become airborne and infect grasses and certain crops. Grasses may act as a reservoir for ergot. However, sclerotia apparentlydo not remain viable more than one year. Thus, certain agronomic practices may help to control ergot infection. here is some more I found this while searching for spores of different bioliminescent mushrooms.

New Ergot Alkaloid Source?

While doing some research, I have run across what is potentially a breakthrough for a new, easy to produce source of Ergot Alkloids such as Ergotamine.US Patent 2640007 (sorry no link) is entitled "Production of Alkaloids by Clitocybe Subilludens" and describes the culturing of the mushroom fungus Clitocybe subilludens, now known as Omphalotus olearius (Jack-O-Lantern mushroom)to produce Ergotamine, Ergonovine, etc. in large scale commercial production!Omphalotus olearius is a common mushroom which grows on the roots of Oak and other hardwood trees, and also is bioluminescent, i.e. it glows in the dark. Apparently this particular strain was originally found near Gainesville Florida growing on or near Canary Island palm trees. It is unique in that it is the only other source of ergot alkaloids other than in fungi that infect grass type plants like Claviceps.Also interesting is that the patent authors discovered that the yield of mycelium may be increased substantially by utilizing fruit juice concentrates (i.e. Orange juice) in the culture medium. They also mention that the "type and quantity of the alkolids" may be influenced by "those skilled in the art that the well-known methods of producing mutations, such as the use of ultra-violet light or certain chemicals".Omphalotus olearius is wide spread in North America. I would venture that by taking samples of many mushrooms, and testing with Ehrlich-van Urk reagent and paper chromotography/UV light, one could find a strain that produces Ergot alkaloids. (Particularly strains from Northern Florida!)Omphalotus olearius is a very robust and hardy fungi, and submerged culture in large fermenters should be quite easy. It is nowhwere's near as fussy as Claviceps with regards to growing conditions.

erowid.org check this shit out

Here in alt.drugs have been lot of talk about LSD synthesis lately.I guess as an conclusion it can be said that the synthesis can becarried out with good chemistry knowledge and laboratory. Then theproblem is where to get lysergic acid derivative for the synthesis.The full synthesis of the lysergic acid is too difficult. Lysergicacid amides can be extracted from the seeds of morning glory orhawaiian baby wood rose, but it is not practical, because the hugeamount of seeds needed to get enough lysergic acid amides forthe LSD synthesis. To my opinion the only feasible possibility isto cultivate ergot.

What I would like to know is how difficult it is to cultivateClaviceps purpurea for example. Is it harder than growing psychedelicmushrooms? Is the following procedure any good and how hard it isto carry out? Any constructive comments?

Michael Valentine Smith: Psychedelic Chemistry

From pages 105-107:

The Culture and Extraction of Ergot Alkaloids

Make up a culture medium by combining the following ingredients in about500 milliliters of distilled water in a 2 liter, small-neck flask:

Add water to make up one liter, adjust pH 4 with ammonia solution andcitric acid. Sterile by autoclaving.

Inoculate the sterilized medium with Claviceps purpurea under sterileconditions, stopper with sterilized cotton and incubate for two weeksperiodically testing and maintaining pH 4. After two weeks a surfaceculture will be seen on the medium. Large-scale production of thefungus can now begin.

Obtain several ordinary 1 gallon jugs. Place a two-hole stopper inthe necks of the jugs. Fit a short (6 inch) glass tube in one hole,leaving 2 inches above the stopper. Fit a short rubber tube to this.Fill a small (500 milliliter) Erlenmeyer flask with a dilute solutionof sodium hypochlorite, and extend a glass tube from the rubber tubeso the end is immersed in the hypochlorite. Fit a long, glass tube inthe other stopper hole. It must reach near the bottom of the jug andhave about two inches showing above the stopper. Attach a rubber tubeto the glass tube as short or as long as desired, and fit a short glasstube to the end of the rubber tube. Fill a large, glass tube (1 inch x6 inches) with sterile cotton and fit 1-hole stoppers in the ends.Fit the small, glass tube in end of the rubber tube into 1 stopper ofthe large tube. Fit another small glass tube in the other stopper.A rubber tube is connected to this and attached to a small air pumpobtained from a tropical fish supply store. You now have a set-up forpumping air from the pump, through the cotton filter, down the longglass tube in the jug, through the solution to the air space in the topof the jug, through the short glass tube, down to the bottom of theErlenmeyer flask and up through the sodium hypochlorite solution intothe atmosphere. With this aeration equipment you can assure a supplyof clean air to the Claviceps purpurea fungus while maintaining asterile atmosphere inside the solution.

Dismantle the aerators. Place all the glass tubes, rubber tubes,stoppers and cotton in a paper bag, seal tight with wire staplesand sterilize in an autoclave.

Fill the 1-gallon jugs 2/3 to 3/4 full with the culture medium andautoclave.

While these things are being sterilized, homogenize in a blender theculture already obtained and use it to inoculate the media in thegallon jugs. The blender must be sterile. Everything must be sterile.

Assemble the aerators. Start the pumps. A slow bubbling in each jugwill provide enough oxygen to the cultures. A single pump can, ofcourse, be connected to several filters.

After ten days adjust the culture to 1% ethanol using 95% ethanolunder sterile conditions. Maintain growth for another two weeks.

After total of 24 days growth period the culture should be consideredmature. Make the culture acidic with tartaric acid and homogenize ina blender for one hour.

Adjust to pH 9 with ammonium hydroxide and extract with benzene orchloroform/iso-butanol mixture.

Extract again with alcoholic tartaric acid and evaporate in a vacuumto dryness. The dry material in the salt (i.e., the tartaric acid salt,the tartrate) of the ergot alkaloids, and is stored in this form becausethe free basic material is too unstable and decomposes readily in thepresence of light, heat, moisture and air.

To recover the free base for extraction of the amide of synthesis toLSD, make the tartrate basic with ammonia to pH 9, extract with chloroformand evaporate in vacuo.

If no source of pure Claviceps purpurea fungus can be found, it may benecessary to make a field trip to obtain the ergot growths from rye orother cereal grasses. Rye grass is by far the best choice. The ergot willappear as a blackish growth on the tops of the rye where the seeds areand are referred to as "heads of ergot." From these heads of ergot sproutthe Claviceps purpurea fungi. They have long steams with bulbous heads whenseen under a strong glass or microscope. It is these that must be removedfrom the ergot, free from contamination, and used to inoculate the culturemedia. The need for absolute sterility cannot be overstressed. Consult anyelementary text on bacteriology for the correct equipment and procedures.Avoid prolonged contact with ergot compounds, as they are poisonous andcan be fatal.

Yes but not really of mushrooms. Attempting to cultivate ergot is an extremely dangerous endeavor and nothing an amateur should trifle with. I'd even go as far as to say that if this weren't the guy's first post, it should go into Advanced Mycology. But it's not really about mushrooms. Fungus, yes, but as far as I can tell it's only related to LSD precursors, which is a whole different monster.